Modern Vespa

Hi everyone, I'm new 2 scooters (i.e. not very clued up!) earlier in the year I took my newly purchased Classic 172 for a ride to the coast - on the A23 I opened up doing 75mph (for most of the way) - London to Brighton - noticed an oil leak when stopping for services - anyhow on way back did the same: full throttle 75mph then the scoot began to consistently loose power then pick up - loose power then pick up - managed to reach the end of the M23 when the engine fizzled out and literally rolled into a service garage (free wheeling down a hill!) where 6 hrs later the scoot and myself were relayed by van back 2 east london.
My mechanic reminded me it's only a 125 - cost me a wad 2 replace the piston and barrel (Malossi 172) he said: took 2 of them 2 release the piston arm it was locked?! Anyhow now I'm petrified of going over 55mph (she really screams!?) - the pick up in all gears is very good - compression is wow! (there is a very small/slow oil leak coming from the bolts where the exhaust attaches to the engine? mechanic told me it's nothing 2 worry about) have noticed when I open up to 55mph and come to a halt, the revs increase at tick over/stationery...? As a townie would appreciate some advice on how to ride her sensibly on the open road and as a scooter novice some much appreciated input on the above... cheers everybody! A

Hello

Poor little thing!


Yes they do leak oil
It siezed up after a number of warning soft siezes, 2 strokes will do that if you thrash them. If you are going to go fast do not do it for long periods slow down now and then.
Use a decent 2t oil are you premixing or using the autolube, oh and hover two fingers over the clutch next time it may dump you in the road.

Grumpy

Hi Grumpy

I assume premix is when you physically pour the the oil into the petrol tank and autolube is where U pour oil into a seperate hole?!

If that assumption is right, then it's an autolube - is Castrol 2T an OK oil?

btw after travelling at 55mph is it normal 4 the tickover 2 be higher when she's idle?

Thanks for ur wisdom

A

From what you described above, it sounds like you are noticing this when you rapidly come to a stop after high speed. Is that correct?

A lean condition can result in behavior where the tickover lingers before dropping down to idle. Perhaps you have an air leak or something causing you to run lean (could explain your seize). Have you checked your plug color?

Also, it's worth asking - my throttle is pretty sensitive and sometimes when i'm gripping the handlebars doing a quick stop, I'll actually be holding the throttle open ever so slightly - enough that it makes my tickover high, but not enough that I realize I'm doing it. Any chance that's what is going on?

what colour should the plug be?

A

http://www.incriminators.com/plugchop.html

That link has the info on how to correctly test your WOT mixture using plug color. Your plug should be a creamy chocolatey brown. Very pale or white is too lean, very dark or even black is too rich.

Hello

I should have been more welcoming my bad, you may need a better oil such as a semi synthetic, although castrol is ok.

My tickover is not steady if I have been going quickly, my philosphy is 3/4 throttle for 7/8 of the performance.

Again welcome to scootering.

Grumpy

u like to speed up dont u so use both premix and autolube it wont let u lean on oil for sure just maybe a dirty exhaust every 2-3 month but thats easy to clean

Hi everybody,

just a big thank you for all your helpful advice on the above

have a nice weekend

A

Welcome aboard. Hope to hear from you regularly.

Enjoy

Al